*Sermonette includes local Liberian vernacular
Every morning I spend at least one hour reading
headline news in Africa, with particular emphasis on Liberia and West Africa. Much
of that period is spent digesting news from my native country, Liberia.
Ninety-five percent of the time I am reduced to helplessness, sadness, and some
anger, because I can’t have my wish. My wish is that this beautiful country
would be alright—life would become normal, a developed country—the people would
be happy, healthy, and prosperous—that we would become more serious about God. Every
day for the one hour plus I spend reading the news my heart can be burning with
melancholy and hurt. Some days just as I start to smile, the small good news is
quickly strangled by the many large, big bad news. From then on I go back into
prayer. My friend, we have many needs in Liberia. But, what we need most is God
and Prayer and seriousness about Jesus Christ.
Liberians, take this or leave it. I come to tell you
that the Liberia we are seeing, hearing about, and reading off, is NOT what God
has in store for that country. Something has to give. As a dedicated woman of Liberian
heritage, Christian and servant of the Living God, I know for a fact that God
has great things for that country. Can’t you tell? Ponder this. Liberia and Liberian
people are not the last on God’s agenda. Let us stop making it appear like it
is.
Whenever a national crisis looms Liberians quickly band
together. When calamity hits the land Liberians gather and become first rate
Christians. Fasting and Praying! All over the country and worldwide where
diaspora Liberians are, talk of prayer dominates our agenda. Falling facedown
before God, repeating deep and profound Christian phrases, such as: “My people
your let’s pray oh…; God will help us…; Jesus never fail…; Lord, have mercy on us
oh; God will see us through…; …If my people who are called by my name shall humble
themselves… hear from heaven…heal their land….; All I know God’s in control….;”—and
all the religious phrases and Bible quotations of Christianity. When disaster threatens
Liberians become passionate about being Christians, and you become very God
fearing! As if that is enough for God.
Yes, indeed, God is good. God exacts payment of his
people. This is the same God who would only accept “Blood” as punishment for
sin. He gave up His one and only begotten son, Jesus Christ—God the Son—to come
to earth and be crucified on a cross, bleed (shed His blood) and die, be buried
in the earth—as the only acceptable sacrifice for forgiveness of mankind sin.
This Son that was sent is God Himself who took on human flesh. God made a
manifestation of He, Almighty God, in the form of the creature man. That is how
serious Almighty God is about redemption. God is not flattered by your devotion
during calamity. God is impressed by your redemption from sin and your
preparedness to spend eternity with Him. The Lord will take you back regardless
of what you have done, or who you are. You have to do it HIS WAY. He is a
covenant keeping God. You must be part of the covenant with HIM. Unless it is
done God’s way we will always be reminded of who God is. We will know time
after time how serious God is about redemption. Omnipotent God! Doing things
His Way. Always.
Let me tell you what the Lord is saying this morning:
"Whenever you come running to me, I hear you. When you
are well you turn your backs to me. I want to live with you. You reject me. I
choose to make you my sanctuary amidst the dwellings of other gods. You refuse
to be my sanctuary. You chose the dwellings of other gods. I have asked you
over and over to honor me. You invite and worship pagan gods. I give you
beauty. You give me horror. I do not bring evil on my children. When you leave
yourself open and separated from me you become better targets for evil
trespasses. Evil cohabits in your midst when you rebuff my presence nationally.
I am God, who honors obedience. Not your sacrifice. The sacrifice necessary for
you has already been made. Were you not in distress would you show me this much
glory?"
My friend, the fact of the matter is God is still in
control. While we make this doubling effort to call on Jesus during these times
of distress, let every Liberian who has chosen Almighty God as Lord and Savior
worship and praise the Lord. Do not be tempted to blame God for distress. Repent.
Make a determination that when crisis has passed, YOU WILL LIVE FOR ALMIGHTY GOD.
You would do things differently. Liberia, you will turn your nation, seriously,
into a house of God. Praise and worship The Lord through it all. Therein is the
DELIVERANCE.
Blessings and peace,
Servant Hortense Grimes
Founder, Do It For Christ Ministries
